Kodiak island

Last time

Finally, stiff, sore and covered in bruises, we neared the edge of the forest. Then there was a low growl, and we caught a glimpse of fiery red eyes in the shadows. This was our undoing. When we were distracted, suddenly the world turned upside down untill we were hanging from our ankles. The growl returned untill we saw a group of hellhounds, some of them massive, looking at us. "Mrs. O' Leary, down girl."

Rang out a familiar voice. Percy Jackson strolled into our views, a crossbow slung over his shoulder. He leaned against a tree, staring at us. "Well well, what do we have here? You guys are lucky your not dead right now. We disabled most of the more deadly traps. If Anabeth didn't still feel a kinship with you Thalia, you three would be dead now. So," He took out his crossbow and aimed it at us. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

NOW

Thalia POV

I glared at him, well, as best as i could while hanging upside down. "Why would you kill us? what did we ever do to you?"

"Do i really need to answer that? Completely ignoring that you work for the gods, who killed my girlfriend, kidnapped me, and wasted almost a year of my life. I'm not going back FYI. Nico got me locked in a cell with no air and almost killed me. You seem to have fun using me as a punching bag. Grover over there really hasn't done anything to tick me off. But then again, his incompetence did get my mom killed. If i let you down, i would guess you would try to punch/slap me, Nico would try to shadow travel, and Grover would torture our eardrums with some Barry Manilow. Does that sound accurate? I, even with my grievances, still am remaining neutral. That is, until someone bothers and/or threatens me. Then i will join the opposing side. Got it?"

Grover decided to break into the conversation. "Can you at least let us down so we can talk this over as civilized folk?"

He sighed. "Fine. But if i am attacked, i make no guarantees my hellhounds won't tear you to shreds." He cut the rope holding us up, causing us to all fall on our heads. I slowly sat up once the world stopped spinning.

"Oh, that hurt. Was that really necessary?"

He smirked. "No. But it was fun." He turned around and walked away. "Well?" He called over his shoulder. "I imagine you're going to try to persuade me aren't you? Come along."

We reluctantly followed him through the woods. I took a moment to look around and appreciate the beauty of nature. He really had picked a pretty place for his house. On a deserted island, with a beach and a forest, with a perfect view over the ocean. We finally, after a half hour walk, arrived at the foot of a cliff. He placed his hand a slab of metal inset in the stone, and placed his head so that he was looking into a small hole. A moment later, part of the cliff face slid back, revealing a stairway. We went up. And up. And up. At the top, we looked out and gasped. It was incredible. The sun was shining, the breakers were crashing on the beach below, the bird were singing, and the grass was perfectly manicured. It looked as if a celebrity estate had been transplanted to the top of the cliff. Then we saw the house. It was partially leaning out over the ocean. It looked exactly Tony Stark's estate in Iron Man three, before the Mandarin blew it up. But not everything was as it seemed. I saw some guard automatons with weapons and some rocket launchers cleverly disguised underneath some bushes. And... Was that a pillbox?

He lead us inside, as the door slid open, admitting us while releasing the smell of Lotus flowers. Percy laughed at the look on Nico's face. "Yes yes, i know. I took the same scent from the Lotus casino. I find it extremely calming. This way." He lead us down a hall and into what looked like a conference room. There were probably about fifteen to twenty chairs with high backs around the table. There were two chairs at the head of the table. Percy sat in one, while the other was facing away from us. It slowly turned around, revealing Annabeth petting a cat in her lap. She folded her hands and looks at us. "My name is Chase. Annabeth Chase." She cracks up and high fived Percy. "I have always wanted to do that. And their faces? It was priceless."

"Hey" Percy protested. "I want to do that to!" He picked up a radio. "Odion! Go to the nearest WalMart. I require a revolving chair and a kitten." He placed the radio down and looked at us. "Okay. Let's hear your sales pitch."

I went first. "Percy, why are you doing this? Yes, the gods aren't perfect, but Gaea is even worse. And she didnt make you swear on the styx. There are no consequences if you come back."

He held up a hand. "I'll stop you there. Not perfect? The gods are horrible. And i'm not backing Gaea, i am neutral. I have done enough for the gods and they have hurt me enough that I don't owe the gods anything. I can do what i please now. Do you even hear yourself? You are telling me that i should break my word and my honour, to betray the one who gave me back Annabeth and this nice house, to go back to them? How would i be any better than the opponent then? What is to stop me from breaking a promise to others? That is a slippery slope you want me to go down, and i dont think im going to. Plus, if i go back, Annabeth will be taken by Hades and Thanatos. I can't let that happen."

He stood up. "I think this conversation is over. Goodbye." With that the floor underneath the chairs disappeared and we fell, screaming, down the hole.

Percy POV

I smiled, knowing they would just have a very long slide all the way back to the bottom of the cliff. I turned to Annabeth. "You do realize that they won't give up." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Annabeth grinned.

"I know. I expect a few gods next time. I already have a ton of nasty surprise set up." She held up a few remotes and smirked evilly.

A/N Decided to update this one cause I haven't been paying it any attention. I am going to concentrate on finishing THIS then i will go back to taking turns for each story